History and Mission of the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools

The Northwest Association Accredited Schools, (NAAS) Schools was established in 1927.  Alaska’s first school to be accredited, Juneau High School, became a member of NAAS that same year.  The purpose of the Alaska Committee is to promote the improvement of all Alaska schools, public and private, regardless of grades or school structure. 

Mission Statement and Goals of the NAAS

The mission of the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools is to advance excellence in education through the process of accreditation.

To fulfill this mission, the Commission on Schools has the following goals:

• To ensure all schools are engaged in ongoing improvement toward quality education using a School Improvement Plan.
• To ensure all schools yearly demonstrate progress toward their school goals.
• To require all accredited schools meet The NAAS established standard.

The Northwest Association of Accredited Schools accredits distance education, elementary, foreign nation, high, K-12, middle, post secondary non degree granting, special purpose, supplementary education, travel education, and trans-regional schools.

The geographic territory of the Association consists of the states of Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington, and other geographical areas designated from time to time by the Board of Trustees.

States in the NAAS

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